Notices
General Boating Discussion

Old wooden boats

Thread Tools
 
Old 05-15-2024 | 02:18 PM
  #1  
F-2 Speedy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Platinum Member
Community Builder
10 Year Member
Platinum Member
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 11,427
Likes: 3,953
From: Midwest & T-Rock
Default Old wooden boats

Anyone with experience of these boats, looking at a 1951 Chris Craft that's been sitting on a trailer for 6 years since purchased
F-2 Speedy is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-2024 | 02:26 PM
  #2  
Registered
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 418
Likes: 54
From: Crosslake, MN
Default

I own a 1939 Chris Craft 19' Barrelback - biggest thing is to make sure the bottom has been replaced ( otherwise they leak or are rotted ) and then how does the overall boat look ( does it need varnish ). Honestly, I'd get someone involved who knows this stuff - they can be a real money pit.

MDS
mikesufka is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-2024 | 02:44 PM
  #3  
F-2 Speedy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Platinum Member
Community Builder
10 Year Member
Platinum Member
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 11,427
Likes: 3,953
From: Midwest & T-Rock
Default

Originally Posted by mikesufka
I own a 1939 Chris Craft 19' Barrelback - biggest thing is to make sure the bottom has been replaced ( otherwise they leak or are rotted ) and then how does the overall boat look ( does it need varnish ). Honestly, I'd get someone involved who knows this stuff - they can be a real money pit.

MDS
Thanks for the feedback, the boats looks to be restored at some point, Ill see if the owner knows

F-2 Speedy is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-2024 | 03:46 PM
  #4  
Registered
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 418
Likes: 54
From: Crosslake, MN
Default

Originally Posted by F-2 Speedy
Thanks for the feedback, the boats looks to be restored at some point, Ill see if the owner knows
If the bottom is wrecked, it's about $1500 / foot to replace it. Varnish could be tens of thousands to clean up also. Be very careful, and we haven't even talked about the motor yet.

MDS
mikesufka is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-2024 | 03:47 PM
  #5  
Registered
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,311
Likes: 1,817
From: Merritt Island, FL
Default

In my teen we restored a 39 Century (Learned to ski behind it) and then a 63 Century.

If they are not kept in the water they will leak, we used to fill them with water since they were kept on a lift. I think they are some of the most beautiful boats on the water but a LOT of work.

I think there is a wooden boat show coming up at LOTO soon?
Wildman_grafix is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-2024 | 03:49 PM
  #6  
Registered
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 418
Likes: 54
From: Crosslake, MN
Default

I should add, I think it's much easier to buy a fully restored boat.

Check out www.freedomboatservice.com as an example of what stuff costs. I know Dave ( the owner ).

MDS
mikesufka is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-2024 | 03:51 PM
  #7  
F-2 Speedy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Platinum Member
Community Builder
10 Year Member
Platinum Member
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 11,427
Likes: 3,953
From: Midwest & T-Rock
Default

Originally Posted by mikesufka
If the bottom is wrecked, it's about $1500 / foot to replace it. Varnish could be tens of thousands to clean up also. Be very careful, and we haven't even talked about the motor yet.

MDS
The response from the owner is he bought it from Yacht world with no prior history, he had accident and is not able to work on it. he said it was winterized but didn't know how and its been sitting covered and tarped outside all this time.

EDIT: Mike I sent you a pm

Last edited by F-2 Speedy; 05-15-2024 at 03:58 PM.
F-2 Speedy is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-2024 | 04:02 PM
  #8  
Registered
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,941
Likes: 526
Default

Heres some light reading, with alotta pictures. Agree about being way up there on the looks.
serious craftsmanship and artistry involved.
https://correctcraftfan.com/forum/fo...an-restoration

See how nice it looks in the first few pics.

Last edited by outonsafari; 05-15-2024 at 04:07 PM.
outonsafari is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-2024 | 07:43 PM
  #9  
Registered
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 9,969
Likes: 6,463
From: Chicago
Default

If you`re bored I got a lot of stuff I could use help with on the NorTech
ICDEDPPL is offline  
Reply
Old 05-15-2024 | 09:07 PM
  #10  
Registered
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,788
Likes: 1,376
From: naples,florida
Default

I’ve always been a fan of old Chris crafts after helping out when I was a kid rebuilding them with some old retired factories workers.

A few years back I did some repairs on a really clean 1963 37 foot Chris Craft cruiser and it really woke me up to what a lot of work you can run into deep down identifying a small surface problem.

This boat being a freshwater boat all its life and one owner was clean but it was rotting from the top down. Rain water penetrated the cabin top and leaked down the side of the frames and rotted areas of them.

A small runabout would be far less work than a cruiser but if it was sitting out in the weather rain water is a rotting killer.

If you have a heated shop and need a winter project for the next 5 years and are prepared to use the original boat as just a pattern Go for it.



This is a Crazy project here.






tommymonza is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.